As a reminder, today is the last day to send book covers and/or book trailers for Minutes Before Sunset to ashleeironwood.com. Remember: “AuthorBlog” must be the title of the email, or you’ll be sent to the spam folder. If you want any information, you can always check out Writing Tips: Involving Your Readers for the original post. At midnight on March 18th, submissions will be closed.

I’ve already received a couple, and I’m really excited where this novel is headed.

I really enjoyed this one, but it was too Nicholas Sparks for a paranormal romance. A good friend of mine made it from a photo I took in Puerto Rico, but they don’t have a website. The winner will be in the publication!

In terms of updates, Minutes Before Sunsetis past half of the final revision work, and formatting is almost complete. However, I’m hoping to release it in May, and so far my schedule is working. (Muh-ha-ha-ha.)

I’m really excited to be sharing a modern work with you all, considering November Snow will be six years old this August. (Six?! Can you believe that? I feel like a mother sending her child off to class to make friends. So I want to introduce this paranormal romance more and more over the next couple of days.)

I’m planning many posts: the front cover, the back cover, the sneak peak, the first chapter, the etc. etc. etc. If you have any ideas and/or questions, let me know, but I’m going to answer the most common questions I’ve already received first:

1. What kind of paranormal is your paranormal romance? What makes it unique from other paranormal romances? Is it young-adult?

Minutes Before Sunset is a young-adult urban fantasy, falling under the paranormal romance umbrella. It takes place in Hayworth, a small Midwestern town with an unexpected nightlife. Shades and lights (my paranormal creatures, if you will) are fated to rage in war, and my protagonist is forced to lead it. I think one of the most unique aspects, however, is one of the main concepts: Archetypes are flipped. Lights are evil; darks are good. Winter is life; spring is death. The reasoning for this is explained, but it’s a surprise.

2. Is it told from two perspectives like November Snow?

Yes! The novel is told from Jessica Taylor, a new girl to town with roots from her adoption, and Eric Welborn. If you’d like to think of dual perspectives, Eric also struggles with his dual identity (every light and shade has a separate name when they transform) and his name is Shoman.

3. When did you write it? What inspired you?

I originally wrote this book when I was fifteen, but it’s only recently that I’ve gone back to revise and work with it in order to ready it for publication. I was inspired by many things–mainly the fact that I love winter and nighttime, and archetypes really bothered me throughout school. I wanted to address that, but I also wanted to create a world that tore the two sides–Light and Dark–apart in a way that the line blurred. But that’s for another time to explain.

Hey thanks for the follow, and also I have to say, I think it’s so exciting how you got published at such a young age! Now you’ve got another book coming…so fun. I’m trying out writing from more than one perspective right now (it’s my first time!), and was wondering if you had any advice? 🙂 Thanks again!

Eeee! What a great idea. Would you mind if I use it as a future post for “Writing Tips” and link your blog as the person who asked? I always try to get followers more involved on the post, and I’d also love sharing those tips with others.
~SAT

Wow, I’m flattered, sure thing. I’m actually writing from about six points of view (3 baddies and 3 protagonists) with a chapter dedicated to each, so we’ll see how it goes…biting off a large chunk, but hopefully it’ll force me up the learning curve faster :P. Can’t wait to hear your advice!

I have the post scheduled for March 31. I know this is later than you were probably wishing, but I hope it’s acceptable.
You are tagged, of course.
Have a great day; looking forward to your thoughts,
~SAT

I may not have a great grasp on how you’re working things with this new book and the w/p reader involvement bit but it sounds cool so far as I do understand it, and you’re new book to be sounds great too. I’m very interested in what you say on here, you being the first person I’m aware of meeting on here who has a physically published book out, as opposed to self published in e-book form. Personally I struggle with all the ins and outs of writing rules and my stories end up like dead husks whilst trying to get the “craft” right! But I guess if I don’t work past that issue I’ll never achieve anything, just a shame there’s such a strict craft to successful writing. But you obviously have a real gift and I’m really happy to have met you here 🙂 You have much quality advice to offer 🙂